MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NOVEMBER 2025

Today I’ve got a big announcement to share with you all…one that’s two years in the making.                   

Every registered charity owes a certain amount of transparency to the public – after all, we’re funded by the generosity of our community through individual contributions and grant funding. Funders considering a donation often research a nonprofit before committing their hard-earned dollars to a cause. The premier charity evaluator is Charity Navigator, which scores nonprofits based on their transparency, financial health, program efficacy, and a few other factors. 

When I took over as Executive Director of Parkinson’s Resource Organization (PRO), we had a Charity Navigator score of 67%. Today, just shy of two years later, I’m thrilled to report we’ve reached a score of 98%. 

What does this mean? First, and most importantly, PRO has ALWAYS been worthy of your financial support. For 35 years, we have worked hard to provide free, high-quality emotional support and education to people with Parkinson’s and caregivers. Our finances have always been available to the public through a 990 filing and have always withstood scrutiny. 

But we haven’t always done the best job communicating our efforts and demonstrating our impact – and we owe that to you, our supporters. 

Over the last two years, we’ve worked behind the scenes to improve our public reporting, rewrite our internal governance structure, and go beyond the minimum to really embody transparency. 

Last year, we managed to get our Charity Navigator score up to 87%. But, we weren’t satisfied. This year, we contracted with an outside audit firm, began collecting more robust demographic information, and applied rigorous internal accounting standards. And this week, it paid off.

I’m really proud to shepherd PRO into a 98% rating on Charity Navigator. You – our community and supporters, deserve the best. It’s my mission to deliver. 

A 98 out of 100 indicates a nonprofit is exceptionally strong across Charity Navigator’s evaluation areas. It demonstrates: 

• Efficient Use of Funds (most donations go to programs, not overhead)
• Transparent Governance (open access to financials, leadership info, and policies)
• Strong Impact (programs achieve measurable results in line with mission)
• Resilient Operations (good planning, adaptability, and leadership structure)

It’s effectively a signal to donors that our organization is trustworthy, well-managed, and delivering real value to the Parkinson’s community. 

So, now what? We’re entering the season of generosity, a critical time for nonprofits like PRO. This is where we close funding gaps that may have accumulated over the course of the year and build our budget for 2026. This is where you decide how much value we added to your life – and whether you have the capacity to donate to keep our programs free in 2026 and beyond. 

Entering this season with a 98% ranking means you can give with confidence that we will steward your contribution ethically, that we translate it into real impact for people with Parkinson’s and caregivers, and that we plan thoughtfully for long-term health. 

And one final note on this topic – a lot of work goes on behind the scenes of a healthy nonprofit. Our community programs – the support groups, symposiums, educational webinars, one-on-one consultations – are supported by immense backend labor to comply with local and federal regulations and ensure best business practices. It’s not glamorous, it doesn’t translate into compelling donor stories, but it matters. Trust that we approach the management of PRO with the same intensity and commitment to excellence we bring to our support of each of you. 

If you have questions about our Charity Navigator score — or any of the other unglamorous, behind-the-scenes work we do, feel free to reach out.

Now read on for PRO OUT AND ABOUT: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THE 7TH ANNUAL DON CAVANAUGH DAY — NOVEMBER 16, 2025, NAVIGATING 2026: MEDICARE VS. MEDICARE ADVANTAGE – WHY REDUCED ACCESS COULD COST YOU MORE THAN YOU THINK, QUALITY-OF-LIFE IMPROVEMENT FOR PARKINSON’S WITH NEUROACUPUNCTURE, GENDER AND LEVODOPA: WHAT A NEW STUDY SAYS ABOUT “WEARING-OFF” AND DYSKINESIA, 5 THINGS I LEARNED FROM MANAGING MY MOTHER’S MONEY, DID YOU KNOW? DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION, and MEET THE PRO TEAM. 

Warmly,

Eileen Lynch

Executive Director